United States: Recipes and Cuisine

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States
Image by Pixabay

The cooking and cuisine of the United States defies easy categorization. While well known for the mass production and global uniformity of fast food outlets, America is actually home to wide-ranging regional cuisine and the influence of immigrant groups past and present. From New England clam chowder to Texas barbecue to cioppino in the City by the Bay, the cuisine of the United States has thrills around every corner.

Typical American Dishes

A list of typical American dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan an American-style meal, party or festival.

Appetizers

  • Buffalo Wings (Spicy-vinegary chicken wings)
  • Crab Cakes (Fried crabmeat patties)
  • Nachos (Tortilla chips with toppings)
  • Onion Rings (Breaded, fried onions)
  • Potato Chips (Fried thin-sliced potatoes)
  • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (American Halloween snack)
  • Rocky Mountain Oysters (Sautéed pig testicles)

Soups and Stews

  • Chicken-Noodle Soup
  • Chili con Carne (Tex-Mex spicy beef stew)
  • Gumbo (Thick okra stew)
  • Oyster Stew (Shellfish stew)
  • Vermont Cheddar Soup

Salads

  • Cobb Salad (Salad with a variety of toppings)
  • Potato Salad
  • Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
  • Sweet Coleslaw (Sweet cabbage salad)

Noodles and Pasta

  • Lasagna (Layered pasta with fillings)
  • Macaroni and Cheese (Pasta with cheese)
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Tuna-Noodle Casserole

Sandwiches

  • BBQ Pork Sandwich
  • BLT (Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich)
  • Club Sandwich (Sandwich with chicken, tomato and bacon)
  • Dagwood (Oversized, double-decker sandwich)
  • Egg Salad Sandwich
  • French Dip au Jus (Roast beef sandwich with jus dipping sauce)
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  • Hamburger
  • Hot Dogs (Beef or pork sausages on a bun with condiments)
  • Muffaletta (Meat and olive spread sandwich)
  • PBJ (Peanut butter and jelly sandwich)
  • Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
  • Reuben (Ham, Swiss and sauerkraut on rye)
  • Sloppy Joes (Seasoned ground beef sandwich)
  • Tuna Salad Sandwich

Poultry

  • Chicken and Dumplings (Chicken stew with baking powder dumplings)
  • Chicken Pot Pie (United States savory chicken pie)
  • Fried Chicken
  • Roast Turkey with Gravy (American holiday turkey)

Meats

  • BBQ Spare Ribs
  • Beer-braised Bratwurst
  • Chicken-Fried Steak (Breaded steak cutlet)
  • Corn Dogs (Cornbread and hot dog on a stick)
  • Kalua Pork (Roast pork)
  • Meatloaf (Baked ground beef loaf)
  • North Carolina BBQ Pork
  • Smothered Pork Chops (Pork chops with onion gravy)

Fish and Seafood

  • BBQ Oysters
  • Fried Catfish
  • Pan-fried Walleye

Vegetables and Beans

  • Boston Baked Beans (White beans baked with molasses)
  • Corn on the Cob
  • Creamed Corn (Corn simmered in cream)
  • Mashed Potatoes (Potato puree)
  • Sausage-stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Southern Greens
  • Stewed Tomatoes

Breads and Grains

  • Baking Powder Biscuits
  • Boston Brown Bread (Molasses bread)
  • Southern Cornbread
  • Cornbread Dressing (Southern dressing)
  • Dinner Rolls
  • French Fries (Deep-fried potato sticks)
  • Hot Cross Buns
  • Hoppin’ John (Rice and black-eyed peas)
  • Wheat Bread
  • Wild Rice Pilaf (Wild grain)
  • White Bread

Sauces and Condiments

  • À la King (Leftovers in a white sauce)
  • Cranberry Sauce (Cranberry condiment)
  • Guacamole (Avocado sauce)
  • Sausage Gravy

Desserts

  • Apple Cake
  • Caramel Apples (Caramel-covered apples)
  • Coca-Cola Cake
  • Cranberry Pudding (Steamed Christmas pudding)
  • Lemon Bars
  • Peach Cobbler (Peaches baked with pastry)
  • Pumpkin Pie (Pumpkin dessert)
  • Gelatin Dessert
  • Poundcake
  • Snickerdoodles (Cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)
  • Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberries with a sweet biscuit)

Beverages

  • Birch Beer
  • Cocktails (Various alcoholic beverages)
  • Eggnog (Egg and cream Christmas beverage)
  • Gingerale (Ginger-flavored soft drink)
  • Lemonade
  • Limeade
  • Root Beer (Sarsaparilla-flavored soft drink)

Breakfast

  • Hangtown Fry (Oyster and bacon omelet)
  • Hash Browns (Sautéed grated potatoes)
  • Pancakes (Sweet skillet flatbread)

Preserves

  • Pepper Jelly

American Recipes

Try these recipes from the United States.

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)
Bowl of New England clam chowder

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)
Mix of wild and regular rice

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)
Beautifully roasted holiday turkey

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

New York Cheesecake 
(American Mid-Atlantic cream cheese dessert)
A slice of cheesecake with raspberry sauce

New York Cheesecake 
(American Mid-Atlantic cream cheese dessert)

Strawberry Shortcake 
(American strawberries with a sweet biscuit)
Serving of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream

Strawberry Shortcake 
(American strawberries with a sweet biscuit)

Chicken Luau 
(American, Hawaiian chicken with taro leaves)
Chicken with taro leaves

Chicken Luau 
(American, Hawaiian chicken with taro leaves)

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)
Bowl of Buffalo wings

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)
Apple pie with apples, baseball bat and American flag.

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)

Tuna Noodle Casserole 
(American baked tuna and pasta dish)
Casserole of baked tuna noodle casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole 
(American baked tuna and pasta dish)

Potato Salad 
(American potatoes with mayonnaise)
Potato salad on a plate

Potato Salad 
(American potatoes with mayonnaise)

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)
Two Sonoran hot dogs

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)
Platter of Hawaiian kalbi beef ribs

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)

Corn Maque Choux 
(Cajun-Creole corn and peppers simmered in cream)
Corn maque choux

Corn Maque Choux 
(Cajun-Creole corn and peppers simmered in cream)

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)
Freshly baked homemade pumpkin pies

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)

Pie Crust 
(American dessert pastry crust)
A perfect lattice pie crust

Pie Crust 
(American dessert pastry crust)

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)
Stack of pancakes

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)

Lemonade 
(American lemon beverage)
Pitcher of lemonade with fresh lemons

Lemonade 
(American lemon beverage)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)
Plate of oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)
Plate of spaghetti and meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs 
(American pasta with meatballs)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)
Bowl of mashed potatoes

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

Sausage Gravy 
(American white sauce with sausage)
Sausage gravy on a biscuit

Sausage Gravy 
(American white sauce with sausage)

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)
Salmon on cedar planks cooking on a grill

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)
Two sloppy Joe sandwiches

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)

Clambake 
(American, New England seafood and vegetable beach barbecue)
Large pot with clambake ingredients

Clambake 
(American, New England seafood and vegetable beach barbecue)

Creole Barbecue Shrimp 
(American Southern spicy sauteed shrimp)
Platter with Creole barbecue shrimp

Creole Barbecue Shrimp 
(American Southern spicy sauteed shrimp)

Gumbo 
(American Cajun-Creole meat and shellfish stew)
Bowl of gumbo over rice

Gumbo 
(American Cajun-Creole meat and shellfish stew)

Shrimp and Grits 
(American, Southern-Soul shrimp and gravy over grits)
Big bowl of shrimp and grits

Shrimp and Grits 
(American, Southern-Soul shrimp and gravy over grits)

Red Beans and Rice 
(American Creole bean and rice dish)
Red Beans and Rice Recipe (American Creole bean and rice dish)

Red Beans and Rice 
(American Creole bean and rice dish)

Beignets 
(American Southern powdered sugar fritters)
Beignets with a generous dusting of powdered sugar

Beignets 
(American Southern powdered sugar fritters)

Snickerdoodles 
(American cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)
Plate of snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles 
(American cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
Casserole dish of candied sweet potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

Southwestern Dry Rub 
(American Southwest meat, poultry and seafood grill seasoning)
A mixture for Southwestern-style dry spice rub

Southwestern Dry Rub 
(American Southwest meat, poultry and seafood grill seasoning)

Okra Pickles 
(American, Southern-Soul garden refrigerator pickle)
Fresh okra

Okra Pickles 
(American, Southern-Soul garden refrigerator pickle)

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)
A plate of Southern fried chicken

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)
Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Popcorn Balls 
(American caramel-coated popcorn treat)
Popcorn balls

Popcorn Balls 
(American caramel-coated popcorn treat)

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)
North Carolina pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Midwest tomato-based grilling sauce)
Storefront of Arthur Bryant's Barbeque restaurant in Kansas City

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Midwest tomato-based grilling sauce)

Peanut Brittle 
(American toffee candy with peanuts)
Peanut brittle ready to enjoy

Peanut Brittle 
(American toffee candy with peanuts)

Scalloped Potatoes 
(American, Australian potatoes baked with cream)
Serving dish of nicely browned scalloped potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes 
(American, Australian potatoes baked with cream)

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)
Macaroni salad with forks for eating

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)
Pot of simmering greens

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)
Small bowl of cowboy beans

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)

Texas Barbecue Beef Brisket 
(American Tex-Mex smoked, slow-roasted beef)
Carving up a finished smoked beef brisket

Texas Barbecue Beef Brisket 
(American Tex-Mex smoked, slow-roasted beef)

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)
Freshly baked peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

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